Trigger warning: this article contains discussion of disordered eating some readers may find distressing.
Demi Lovato hit the headlines over the weekend after calling out Los Angeles frozen yoghurt shop The Bigg Chill on Instagram for having “tons of sugar free cookies/other diet foods” on display.
The singer, who has been open about her battle with disordered eating since rising to fame, said that her experience was “triggering” and later shared DMs she’d sent and received to staff at the store.
But what exactly did Demi say, and why has Piers Morgan got involved? Here’s everything you need to know about the situation.
What did Demi Lovato say about The Bigg Chill frozen yoghurt?
Demi hit out at The Bigg Chill frozen yoghurt shop on Instagram after she visited the store in Los Angeles. She said that there were lots of sugar free and diet options on display and claimed they “perpetuate a society that not only enables but praises disordered eating”.
“Finding it extremely hard to order froyo from @thebiggchillofficial when you have to walk past tons of sugar free cookies/other diet foods before you get to the counter. DO BETTER PLEASE,” she wrote on Instagram, before adding a hashtag which labelled the company “diet culture vultures”.
Why did Demi Lovato brand The Bigg Chill ‘triggering’ for those with eating disorders?
Demi shared a direct message she sent The Bigg Chill on Instagram where she told them that her experience in the store was "triggering and awful".
She wrote, "Your service was terrible. So rude. The whole experience was triggering and awful. You can carry things for other people while also caring for another percentage of your customers who struggle DAILY just to even step foot in your store.
"You can find a way to provide an inviting environment for all people with different needs. Including eating disorders - one of the deadliest mental illnesses only second to opioid overdoses. Don't make excuses, just do better."
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How did The Bigg Chill respond to Demi Lovato?
The company told Demi that they provide options for diabetic, celiac and vegan customers, as well as those who may prefer to go for the “diet” option.
In DMs that Demi posted to her Instagram story, The Bigg Chill can be seen telling Demi, "We are not diet vultures.
"We cater to all of our customers needs for the past 36 years. We are sorry you found this offensive."
In response, Demi called for “clearer messaging” around which products are for customers with dietary requirements and added, “Being in LA it’s really hard to distinguish diet culture vs health needs.”
What did Piers Morgan say about the Demi Lovato and Bigg Chill drama?
Never one to mince his words, Piers Morgan hit out at “repulsively arrogant” Demi in his newspaper column.
He wrote, “The more this repulsively arrogant woman attacked this lovely little store in her staggeringly unhinged and delusional manner, the more furious I became. How dare she try to destroy The Big Chill simply for doing its job, one that it does very well to widespread popular acclaim?”
Piers added, “Who the hell does Demi Lovato think she is?”
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Did Demi Lovato apologise to The Bigg Chill?
Demi issued an eight-minute apology video on Instagram after being accused of “bullying” the independent frozen yoghurt shop, in which she vowed to work with The Bigg Chill to “help align the messaging”.
She said, “I will do whatever I can to work with this fro-yo shop, if they want to, to help align the messaging so I can feel safe in there and I can eat the fro-yo that I went in there for.
“My intentions were not to come in and bully a small business, that was not it. I walked in, and got so triggered I left without fro-yo, and it made me really sad. That's all it was and I wanted to talk about that."
If you would like to talk to someone about help with eating disorders, please contact Beat on 0808 801 0677.